“Then that Buddha emitted a great light from between his eyebrows. The light was called, ‘The Sound of Initiating All Good Roots,’ and it had rays of lights as many as fine motes of dust in ten Buddhalands as its retinue which completely filled all the lands of the ten directions.

“The light reached all places where there were living beings ready for being tempered, and upon being touched by the light, they themselves were immediately enlightened. All their delusions and heated afflictions were put to rest. The nets of coverings were rent, the mountains of obstacles were smashed, and the turbid impurities were purged. They gave rise to great belief and understanding. They grew victorious good roots. They came to be eternally apart from all difficulties, fears, and worries. All the suffering and anguish of their bodies and minds were eradicated, and they gave rise to the wish to see the Buddha and the inclination toward all-wisdom.

Commentary:

“Then” is when this Buddha and the other Buddhas were sitting in each other’s Way-places. The concept of television can help you to understand this kind of state. On the one hand, you could say television isn’t real, yet it projects the images of people; on the other hand, you could say it’s real, yet doesn’t project actual people, even though one can see their images and hear their voices. So T.V. is a mundane kind of “spiritual powers and miraculous functioning of the Buddhas, of course, exceed this by a hundred times ten thousand, and they are indescribably wonderful.

At that time, that Buddha, whose name was Sumeru Supreme Cloud of a Mountain of Merit and Virtue, emitted a great light from the space between his eyebrows. The light which he emitted also had a name; it was called ‘the sound of initiating all good roots,’ and it had rays of light as many as fine motes of dust in ten Buddhalands as its retinue which completely filled all the lands of the ten directions.

“The light reached all places where there were living beings ready for being tempered—that is, those living beings who were disposed to the taming of their passions, and upon being touched by the light, they themselves were immediately enlightened.

“All their delusions, confusion, and heated afflictions were put to rest and disappeared. The nets of the five coverings of wealth, form, fame, food, and sleep were rent. They were all seen through and put down. The mountains of obstacles were smashed and toppled. There were no longer the marks of self and others. And the turbid impurities—all their greed, hatred, and stupidity—were purged, completely done away with. They gave rise to great belief and understanding, to the great resolve for Bodhi. They grew victorious good roots, and they came to be eternally apart from all difficulties, fears, and worries; they were all swept away. All the suffering and anguish of their bodies and minds—their greed, hatred, and stupidity and all their miseries—were eradicated. They gave rise to the wish to see the Buddha, to meet him, and the inclination toward all-wisdom.

Sutra:

“At that time, the world rulers and their retinues of limitless hundreds of thousands were bathed in the Buddha’s light, causing them all to become enlightened. Then they all went to where the Buddha was and made obeisance at his feet.

“Disciples of the Buddha, in that great metropolis Blazing Light lived the king ‘Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom’ who governed hundreds of myriads of kotis of nayutas of cities.

Commentary:

“At that time, the world rulers—all the kings and emperors throughout that entire world, the feudal princes, and so forth—and their retinues of limitless hundreds of thousands were bathed in the Buddha’s light, causing them all to become enlightened so that they were able to understand the Buddhadharma. And then they all went to where the Buddha was.” Because they’d had this enlightenment, they all delighted in the Buddhadharma, and together they went to where the Buddha was, “ And made obeisance at his feet.” They made full prostration with their five extremities—legs, arms, and head—touching the ground, and they cradled the Buddha’s feet in the palms of their hands. This is a special kind of obeisance.

Universal Worthy Bodhisattva again calls out, “All of you Disciples of the Buddha, in that great metropolis Blazing Light, lived the king ‘Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom.’ He governed hundreds of myriads of kotis of nayutas of cities,’ which means he also governed that many lesser kings and feudal princes. A feudal price is like a present-day mayor: every city has a mayor. At that time such people weren’t called mayors but feudal princes, and this king governed hundreds of myriads of kotis of them.

Sutra:

“The queens and concubines of his palace altogether numbered thirty-seven thousand; ‘Blessed Auspiciousness’ was their leader. And he had five hundred princes; ‘Great Awesome Light’ was their leader. The prince great awesome light had ten thousand royal princesses, and ‘Wonderful Views’ was their leader.

“At that time, upon seeing the Buddha’s light, the prince Great Awesome Light, relying on the strength of his good roots from past cultivation, immediately certified to ten kinds of Dharma-doors.

Commentary:

The King Happy Views Good Wiisdom ruled over hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of great cities, and “ the Queens and Concubines of his palace altogether numbered thirty-seven thousand.” The women of the “back palace”—the women of his court—numbered thirty-seven thousand in all. “ Blessed Auspiciousness’ was their leader.” His queen, Blessed Auspiciousness, was the First Lady–the Empress—among the other women in his court. “And he had five hundred princes.” Quite probably this king was not a gold wheel-turning king, because gold wheel-turning kings have a thousand sons—a retribution of great blessings. But this king had only five hundred princes. Among his sons one was called” ‘Prince Great Awesome Light,’ who was their leader. The Prince Great Awesome Light himself had ten thousand royal princesses in his court, and ‘Wonderful Views’ was their leader.

“At that time, upon seeing the Buddha’s light, the Prince Great Awesome Light, relying on the strength of his good roots from past cultivation—for limitless kalpas, lifetime after lifetime—immediately certified to ten kinds of dharma-doors.” Right at that moment he himself certified to, that is he understood, became enlightened to, ten kings of Dharma-doors.

Sutra:

“What were the ten? Specifically, he certified to and attained the samadhi of all Buddhas’ wheel of merit and virtue; he certified to and attained the universal door Dharani of all Buddhadharmas; he certified to and attained the prajna-paramita of the vast, great store of expedients; he certified to and attained the great adornment of using generous kindness to subdue all living beings; he certified to and attained the universal cloud of sounds of great compassion; he certified to and attained the sublime joy of producing a most exalted mind of boundless merit and virtue; he certified to and attained the vast renunciation of enlightening to all Dharmas as they truly are; he certified to and attained the mighty spiritual penetration of the vast, great impartial store of expedients; he certified to and attained the mighty vows of increasing strength of faith and understanding; he certified to and attained the door of eloquence of universally entering into the light of all-wisdom.

“At that time, after having attained such lights of Dharmas, the Prince Great Awesome Light, relying on the Buddha’s awesome strength, universally regarded the great assembly and spoke verses, saying:

Commentary:

“What were the ten kinds of dharma-doors which he certified to and attained? Specifically, he certified to and attained the samadhi of all Buddhas’ dwheel of merit and virtue.” “All Buddhas” refers to the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three periods of time. They all share the Wheel of Merit and Virtue—a proper samadhi, a proper concentration. The Prince Great Awesome Light certified to and attained that Dharma. This means that he had the samadhi which all Buddha cultivate, and the strength of wisdom which all Buddhas have. This indicates his certification to the Realm of the Buddha Jewel.

“He certified to and attained the universal door dharani of all Buddhadhrmas.” He attained the Buddhadharmas of all the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three periods of time. This was his certification and attainment of the realm of the Dharma Jewel, the Universal Door Dharani. “The Universal Door” pervades all places. “Dharani” is a Sanskrit word which is translated as “giver of all-encompassing support.” It encompasses all Dharmas and upholds limitless meanings.

“He certified to and attained the prajna paramita of the vast, great store of expedients.” “The vast, great store of expedients” refers to the various provisional dharmas. “Prajna-paramita” is wisdom which has arrived at the other shore. This means that he certified to and attained the expedient Dharma-doors possessed by all within the assembly of the Holy Sangha.

“He certified to and attained the great adornment of using generous kindness to subdue all living beings” – he had the ability to subdue all living beings. No matter how obstinate they were, when they saw him, their stubbornness was subdued. That was because he was so majestic and so greatly kind.

“He certified to and attained the universal cloud of sounds of great compassion”— a cloud of sounds which pervasively manifested. From within the cloud came forth sounds which caused all living beings to resolve their minds on Bodhi. He certified to and achieved that greatly compassionate heart.

“He also certified to and attained the sublime joy of producing a most exalted mind of boundless merit and virtue.” He quite spontaneously realized a mind of boundless merit and virtue, one which was most supreme. “He also certified to and attained the vast renunciation of enlightening to all dharmas as they truly are.” He was genuinely enlightened; he was “Thus” enlightened to all dharmas. Not only did he become enlightened, but he had no attachment to dharmas. He was able to renounce them. This means he certified to Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Renunciation, the Four Unlimited Minds of the Buddha.

“He also certified to and attained the mightly spiritual penetration of the vast, great impartial store of expedients,” he gained spiritual penetrations. Further, “He certified to and attained the mighty vows of increasing strength of faith and understanding,” great vow power, which can increase faith and understanding. “He certified to and attained the door of eloquence of universally entering into the light of all-wisdom.” He certified to and attained Universal entry to All-Wisdom. He had wisdom-light and eloquence.

“At that time, after having attained such lights of dharmas—after he’d awakened and been certified to the ten kinds of dharmas of light spoken of above—the prince great awesome light, relying on the Buddha’s awesome strength, universally regarded the great assembly and spoke verses, saying:

Sutra:

In this way-place is seated the World Honored One
His splendorous, pure light
Like a thousand suns dawning
Illumines the realm of space universally.

Limitless kotis of millennia have passed,
And now a guiding master appears.
The Buddha now has come into the world.
Let us all gaze upon him in reverence.

Commentary:

In his way-place is seated the world honored one. The “World Honored one” is the One honored in and beyond the world. This is one of the Ten Titles of a Buddha. When a Buddha appears in the world, he sits in his Way-place as he teaches and transforms living beings. His splendorous, pure light is like a thousand suns dawning—when a Buddha appears in the world, the world is everywhere purified and filled with magnificent light, which causes all those living beings who see it to become enlightened, cut off doubt, and be certified to the Truth. Nothing can compare to the light of the Buddha. The light of the sun is only an analogy to the Buddha’s light, which, like the appearance of a thousand suns, illumines the realm of empty space universally. The great earth obtains all its illumination from a single sun; thousands of suns can illumine all of empty space.

Limitless kotis of millennia have passed—it is not known how many—and now a guiding master appears. It isn’t every day that a Buddha appears in the world. Only after a very long period of time—limitless and boundless great kalpas—has elapsed does a Buddha appear. “A Guiding Master” is also one of the Ten Titles of a Buddha.

The Buddha now has come into the world, let us all gaze upon him in reverence. Now the Prince Great Awesome Light is saying, “We have affinities with the Buddha, and so the Buddha has now come into this world. All of us living beings should gaze upon the Buddha in adoration.”

Sutra:

You should contemplate the Buddha’s light:
Transformation Buddhas—inconceivable
Within their palaces abiding,
Quiescent, in proper samadhi.

Contemplate the Buddha’s spiritual penetrations:
From every pore he emits glowing clouds,
Whose radiance reaches all world realms with inexhaustible light.

Contemplate the Buddha’s body:
His net of light is ultimately pure.
He manifests forms equal to all,
Which pervade the ten directions.
His wondrous sound pervades all worlds,
And those who hear it are all delighted.

According with living beings, in their tongues
He praises the Buddha’s merit and virtue.
Illumined by the light of the World Honored One,
All living beings are blissfully at peace.
Their sufferings all cease to exist,
And their hearts bring forth great joy.

Commentary:

The Prince Great Awesome Light continues, saying: All of you should carefully contemplate and examine the Buddha’s light: his transformation Buddhas are inconceivable. Within the Buddha’s light are limitless and boundlessly many transformation Buddhas, within their palaces abiding. All the Buddha throughout the worlds of the ten directions are seated in their palaces, quiescent, in proper samadhi. They enter actual samadhi, composed and still.

Contemplate the Buddha’s spiritual penetrations: all of you disciples of the Buddha should examine the arisal of the Buddha’s great spiritual power. From his every pore he emits glowing clouds, limitless and boundless numbers of them. The radiance from those clouds reaches all world realms with inexhaustible light. There is never a time when this light becomes extinguished. The more light is emitted, the greater it becomes—vast, inexhaustible, and endless.

Contemplate the Buddha’s body: his net of light is ultimately pure. The Buddha emits a network of clear light which universally illumines the ten directions. He manifests forms equal to all. The transformation bodies which the Buddha manifests are equal in number to all Buddhas, and they pervade the worlds of the ten directions.

His wondrous sound pervades all worlds. The wonderful sound of the Buddha’s speaking the Dharma also pervades the worlds of the ten directions, and those living beings who hear his wonderful Dharma are all delighted. According with living beings, in their tongues he praises the Buddha’s merit and virtue. The Buddha accords with people by speaking in their native dialects so that they can understand. For example, to English-speaking people, he speaks the wonderful Dharma in English. In whatever country he happens to be, he speaks the wonderful Dharma in the language native to that country. He uses those various languages to praise the merit and virtue cultivated by all Buddhas.

Illumined by the light of the World Honored One, all living beings are blissfully at peace. Their sufferings all cease to exist. The living beings dwelling in those places illuminated by the light of the World Honored One all leave suffering and attain happiness. Everything becomes perfect for them; any suffering they might have been undergoing is now completely eradicated. And within their hearts, all those living beings bring forth great joy.

Sutra:

Regard the myriad Bodhisattvas
Assembled here from the ten directions:
They all emit clouds of mani,
Which manifest praising the Buddha.
From inside the Way-place amazing sounds come.
Most profound and far-reaching
And able to end all the sufferings of beings.

Thus is the Buddha’s spiritual might.
All are reverent, all respectful,
While in their hearts comes forth great joy.
Assembled before the World Honored One,
They all gaze up at the Dharma King.

Commentary:

Regard the myriad Bodhisattvas. You should take a look at the numberless transformation Buddhas within the Buddha’s light—countlessly many. There have also come forth Bodhisattvas, who have assembled here from the ten directions: The Bodhisattvas of the ten directions have all congregated at this place, in order to draw near to the Buddha. They all eemit clouds of mani. Each and every Bodhisattva emits clouds of mani-jewels which form a ceiling in empty space. Those clouds manifest praising the Buddha. Light shines forth from within the clouds of mani jewels and the light itself emits subtle and wonderful sounds of praise for the Buddha.

From inside the Way-place amazing sounds come. Within the Way-place, a subtle and wonderful Dharma sound is also produced. That sound of Dharma is due to the power of the Buddha’s spiritual penetrations. It is most profound and far-reaching. All living beings everywhere, to the ends of empty space and the Dharma Realm, are able to hear the sound. And it is able to end all the sufferings of beings. Any living being who hears this Dharma sound is able to leave suffering and attain happiness. Thus is the Buddha’s great spiritual might—the power of the great spiritual penetrations that he is now manifesting.

All living beings are reverent and respectful toward the Buddha, while in their hearts comes forth great joy. Assembled before the World Honored One—the Buddha—at that Way-place, they all gaze up at the dharma king. They all look up in contemplation of the Dharma King’s kindness, compassion, joy, and giving and of his thirty-two marks and eighty subtle characteristics.

Sutra:

“Disciples of the Buddha, when that prince Great Awesome Light spoke those verses, relying upon the Buddha’s spiritual power, his voice universally pervaded the world Supreme Sound.

“At that time, the King Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom, having heard those verses, was filled with great joy. He gazed upon all in his retinue and spoke verses, saying:

Commentary:

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva again calls out, “All of you Disciples of the Buddha.” He says, “Did you know? When that prince great awesome light spoke those verses, those gathas, he was relying upon the Buddha’s spiritual power. He borrowed strength from the Buddha’s great, awesome spiritual penetrations. And his voice universally pervaded the world supreme sound. The sound of his voice penetrated every corner of the world Supreme Sound. The text states very clearly here that his voice was able to gain such magnitude by the power of the Buddha’s spiritual penetrations.

“At that time, the King Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom, the father of the Prince Great Awesome Light, having heard those verses, was filled with great joy.” The son’s good roots were deeper than his father’s, and so he was first to attain the ten kinds of Dharma-doors. He was also first to speak verses. After the King had heard his son speak those verses, his own good roots were brought to maturity, too, and therefore he was extremely happy at heart.

“He gazed upon all in his retinue and spoke verses, saying.” He contemplated all of the multitude surrounding him, including all thirty-seven thousand royal queens and ladies in waiting. He also regarded his five hundred sons and their retinues. Together they comprised “all in his retinue.” And he spoke verses saying:

Sutra:

Quickly, now, summon and call together
The heads of state, such as Kings and Princes,
The great ministers and local officials
Of all the cities and rural towns.

Spread the news to the public in all those townships;
Beat on the great drum at once and assemble.
Each and everyone gather together,
And form a procession to go see the Buddha.

Commentary:

The King Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom used verses to inform the great multitudes: You should quickly, now, summon and call together—he was addressing his five hundred princes: You should go everywhere and rouse the citizens to assemble without delay. Tell the heads of state, such as all the kings and princes, and the great ministers who live in the cities, as well as the governing local officials of all the cities and rural towns. Tell them to quickly spread the news to the public in all those townships; beat on the great drum at once and assemble. Each and everyone of those citizens should gather together, and form a procession to go see the Buddha. Everyone should together go and pay their respects to the Buddha.

Sutra:

At all the places where roads intersect
Ring out the jeweled bell, its sound reaching
Wives and children and retinues all,
So they gather to see the Thus Come One.

The major cities and outlying districts
Should all be made clean and tidy.
Everywhere set up most wondrous banners
Ornamented with mani gems.

Spread out jeweled curtains, bountiful nets,
And musical instruments; arrange them like clouds
In empty space—a magnificent display.
Let every place be filled with them.

Commentary:

At all the places where roads intersect—up and down all the streets and courts, the avenues and lanes on which people reside, you should ring out the jeweled bell, so its sound will be reaching every family—the wives and children and retinues all, so they gather to see the Thus Come One. Every member of each and every family should go to make obeisance to the Buddha. The major cities and outlying districts—the metropolises, small cities, large towns, and villages, should all be made clean and tidy, completely adorned and purified. Everywhere set up most wondrous banners and streamers ornamented with mani gems. The banners should be embellished with mani jewels and other such ornaments.

Spread out jeweled curtains and bountiful nets, which should all be finely fashioned, and musical instruments, arrange them like clouds in empty space—A magnificent display. Let every place be filled with them. Prepare and arrange them all in space so that there is no place that is not filled with them. Lamps and flowers should be scattered about absolutely everywhere, so that every nook and cranny is perfectly adorned.

Sutra:

Cleanse and bedeck every highway and road;
Everywhere rain down exquisite garments;
Polish and drive your jeweled coaches:
Let us form a procession and go see the Buddha.

Each in accord with his means, everyone,
Everywhere rain down adorning objects;
Arrange them all; display them like clouds,
And densely fill empty space with them.
Incense for burning and lotus-bud canopies,
Crescentric necklaces made of jewels

And countlessly many wonderful garments:
All such things you should shower down.
Sweet, fragrant waters from Mount Sumeru’s sea,
And supremely splendid wheels of mani,
As well as pure incense made of chandana:
Showered them down and fill up empty space.

A myriad finely-wrought flower necklaces,
Pellucid adornments without any blemish,
And also lamps embellished with mani:
All those should be made to float in empty space.

We should hold them up to present to the Buddha
As in our hearts we bring forth great happiness.
Wives and sons and retinues all, let us
Go and behold the World Honored One.

Commentary:

Cleanse and bedeck every highway and road. Earlier the Sutra mentions the four crossroads and the by-ways. Now it mentions the great highways—all the roads along which pedestrians and vehicles travel. “You should be especially sure to sweep them all completely clean. Everywhere rain down exquisite garments. You should cause wonderful and subtle garments and flowers to ceaselessly rain down from the sky.

Polish and drive your jeweled coaches: be sure to clean and shine your jeweled carriages—tidy them up real well, and then let us form a procession and go see the Buddha. Let’s go together to see the Buddha and bow to him.

Each in accord with his means, everyone— whether rich or poor—should do all he or she can and prepare all kinds of articles of adornment. Everywhere rain down adorning objects: universally manifest adornments as offerings and arrange them all; display them like a bank of jeweled clouds, and densely fill empty space with them. Cause empty space to be completely filled. This represents the sincerity of our hearts in making offerings to the Buddha.

Incense for burning and precious lotus-bud canopies, crescentric necklaces made of jewels, and countlessly many wonderful garments: all such things you should shower down. Each person should bring forth the resolve to exhaust his or her strength in making offerings to the Buddha.

Sweet, fragrant waters from mount sumeru ’s sea, and supremely splendid wheels of mani, as well as pure incense made of chandana: shower them down and fill up empty space.

Use a myriad finely—wrought flower necklaces, and pellucid adornments without any blemish to adorn and purify the atmosphere and the planet so that they become immaculate, without any dust or defilement. Those objects, and also lamps embellished with mani gems: all those should be made to float in empty space.

We should hold them up to present to the Buddha, whatever the articles of adornment we have to offer; they should be presented with both hands as gifts to the Buddha, as in our hearts we bring forth great happiness. We should greatly rejoice and be especially delighted. We should regard this as an opportunity that is particularly difficult to encounter.

Wives, sons, and retinues all, let us go together to where the Buddha is and behold the World Honored One! We’ll go to see the Buddha, who is most revered both in and beyond the world.

Sutra:

“At that time, the King Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom and his thirty-seven thousand royal wives and ladies-in-waiting, with Blessed Auspiciousness as their leader; his five hundred prices, with Great Awesome Light as their leader, his sixty thousand great ministers, with Wisdom Strength as their leader, and so forth—a multitude of seventy-seven thousand thousand kotis of nayutas—circumambulated from front to back as the streamed out of that great metropolis Blazing Light. And by the power of the king, that great multitude ascended into empty space. All of them, replete with offerings which entirely filled empty space, went to where the Buddha was. They made obeisance at the Buddha’s feet. Then they withdrew to one side and sat down.

Commentary:

“At that time, after the King Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom had spoken those verses, he, together with his thirty-seven thousand royal wives and ladies-in-waiting, proceeded to where the Buddha was. Among the thirty-seven thousand wives and ladies in waiting was the Queen blessed auspiciousness, who was their leader. Along with them went his five hundred princes, with great awesome light as their leader. His sixty thousand great ministers also went along. At their head was a minister called wisdom strength, who acted as their leader.

“Altogether there was a multitude of seventy-seven hundred thousand kotis of nayutas, who circumambulated—proceeding in a circle around the King Happy Views Wholesome Wisdom, from in front of him to in back of him, as they streamed out of that great metropolis blazing light. And by the power of the king—by the might of his spiritual penetrations and powers—that imposing great multitude ascended into empty space. They didn’t have to board a plane—they could travel by riding the clouds. All of them, replete with offerings which entirely filled empty space, went out where the Buddha was. They made obeisance at the Buddha’s feet. Their purpose in going there was to bow to the Buddha. Then they withdrew to one side and sat down. Rather than sit right in front of the Buddha, they all respectfully took seats to his side.

Sutra:

“Moreover, from the city called ‘Wonderful Flower’ came the Heavenly King Banner of Wholesome Transformations, together with his retinue of ten kotis of nayutas.

“From the great city called ‘Ultimate’ came the Dragon King Clear Light, together with his retinue of twenty-five kotis.

“From the city ‘Supreme Vajra Curtain’ came the yaksha king Courageous and Vigorous, accompanied by his retinue of seventy-seven kotis.

“From the city ‘Immaculate’ came the Gandharva King Joyous Vision, accompanied by his retinue of ninety-seven kotis.

“From the city ‘Wonderful Wheel’ came the Asura King Pure Thoughts, accompanied by his retinue of fifty-eight kotis.

“Moreover, from the city ‘Wonderful Adornments’ came the Garuda King Ten Powers and Practices, together with his retinue of ninety-nine thousand.

“From the city ‘Playful Joy and Delight’ came the Kinnara King Vajra Virtue, together with his retinue of eighteen kotis.

“From the city ‘Vajra Curtain’ came the Mahoraga King Jeweled Appelation Banner, along with his retinue of three kotis of hundreds of thousands of nayutas.

“And from the city ‘Wonderfully Pure Adornments’ came the Brahma King Most Victorious, together with his retinue of eighteen kotis.

Commentary:

“Moreover, from the city called ‘wonderful flower’ came the Heavenly King Banner of Wholesome Transformations, together with his retinue of ten kotis of nayutas. From the great city called ‘ultimate’ came the Dragon King Clear light, together with his retinue of twenty-five kotis. Also, from the city ‘supreme vajra curtain’ came the Yaksha King Courageous and Vigorous, accompanied by his retinue of seventy-seven kotis. They flocked together and went to bow to the Buddha. And also, From the great city ‘immaculate’ came the Gandharva King Joyous Vision, accompanied by his retinue of ninety-seven kotis. Furthermore, from the city ‘wonderful wheel’ came the Asura King Pure Thoughts, and he also was accompanied by his retinue of fifty-eight kotis. All together they went to bow to the Buddha.

“Moreover, from the city ‘wonderful adornments’ came the Garuda King Ten Powers and Practices, together with his retinue of ninety-nine thousand. They all went together to pay homage to the Buddha. Also, from the city ‘playful joy and delight’ came the Kinnara King Vajra Virtue, together with his retinue of eighteen kotis. En masse they went to see the Buddha.

“Also, from the city ‘Vajra Curtain’ came the Mahoraga King Jeweled Appelation Banner, along with his retinue of three kotis of hundreds of thousands of nayutas.

“And from the city ‘wonderfully pure adornments’ came the Brahma King Most Victorious, together with his retinue of eighteen kotis. He and his court went to bow to the Buddha.

Sutra:

“And so it went regarding all the kings and their retinues throughout hundreds of myriads of kotis of nayutas of cities. They all amassed together and proceeded to the place of the Thus Come One Sumeru Supreme Cloud of a Mountain of Merit and Virtue. They reverently bowed at the Buddha’s feet, then they withdrew to one side and sat down.

Commentary:

“And so it went regarding all the kings just mentioned and on up to the kings and their retinues theroughout hundreds of myriads of kotis of nayutas of great cities. A “nayuta” is a huge number. Each of those cities had its king and the king’s company who joined him. They all amassed together and proceeded to the place of the Thus Come One so they could see the Buddha Sumeru Supreme Cloud of a Mountain of Merit and Virtue.

“They reverently bowed at the Buddha’s feet. They went before the Buddha to make obeisance, to bow their heads, show their respect, and make offerings to him. And then they withdrew to one side and sat down. After bowing to the Buddha, their gazes not wandering from him, they stepped back, moved to one side, and sat down. Then they waited to hear the Buddha speak the Dharma.